Mumbai, September 22: A 26-year-old cab driver, Aftab Hussain, tragically took his own life by jumping from the Bandra-Worli Sea Link on Friday, September 22. According to sources, he was allegedly completing the final challenge of an online game that had consumed much of his time. Hussain had reportedly been deeply addicted to the game, playing it constantly. 

In the early hours of September 20, at around 1 a.m., Hussain, a resident of Govandi, stopped his car in the middle of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and, without hesitation, jumped off the bridge. The incident was soon reported, prompting the Worli police to take swift action. Mumbai Shocker: Woman Working in IT Firm Dies by Suicide by Jumping Into Sea off Marine Drive.

A Times Now report says that Hussain jumped from the Bandra-Worli Sea Link in an attempt to win the final round of the online game. His friends, who were playing with him before the tragedy, revealed that he had informed them he would only be available until midnight. Blue Whale Challenge: Pune Schoolboy Dies After Jumping Off 14th Floor To Complete Task in Notorious Blue Whale Online Game.

Upon reviewing the CCTV footage from the area, authorities were able to confirm that Hussain had indeed leapt from the sea link. A search operation was immediately launched with assistance from the fire brigade. After hours of efforts, his body was finally recovered later that evening near Dadar Chowpatty, marking a tragic end to the unfortunate incident.

In a similar incident, a 15-year-old boy from Pimpri Chinchwad, near Pune, jumped from the 14th floor of a building to complete a task in an online game. His parents revealed he had been addicted to the game for six months, often locking himself in his room for hours. They noticed changes in his behaviour but never imagined it would lead to suicide. The boy, a class 10 student, took the leap late at night on July 26 while his parents were asleep. His father worked in Nigeria, and his mother, an engineer, was a homemaker.

Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Helpline Numbers:

Tele Manas (Ministry of Health) – 14416 or 1800 891 4416; NIMHANS – + 91 80 26995000 /5100 /5200 /5300 /5400; Peak Mind – 080-456 87786; Vandrevala Foundation – 9999 666 555; Arpita Suicide Prevention Helpline – 080-23655557; iCALL – 022-25521111 and 9152987821; COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ) – 0832-2252525.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 22, 2024 06:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).